The Goblin

A goblin appears and asks for a job, is it just a simple request for work or is he hiding something?

Submitted:Oct 10, 2012
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Once upon a time, in a forest, a young maiden was
walking to her house after visiting her parents in a neighboring
village. As she walked along the trail a small goblin leaped from
the underbrush to stand in front of her.

"Hello girly," the goblin said, his red eyes
sparkling with trickery, the way all goblins eyes did. "Why are
you walking in these woods? Surely you know that there are many
foul beings living here that would love to eat you pretty one."

"I know this," the young woman answered calmly,
unsurprised at this fact. "I live in these woods by myself; the
creatures here have never bothered me before."

"Ahh, but what were to happen if one of these vile
lovelies got the craving for human flesh?" the goblin pressed
further, though to what ends his questioning led the young woman
had no clue, but still she listened.

"I have three brothers," she replied, "My eldest
brother works as a knight in the king's army; he has shown me how
to fight with sword and dagger. The second eldest is a scholar,
he has told me that many of these beings are slow and dumb, I
have always been a fast learner and quick to think, I can easily
outwit them. The youngest brother is an advisor for the royal
family; he has taught me how to negotiate peace with others. By
using these lessons I can protect myself in this forest."

The goblin thought this over for she had given him
much to think about. He chewed each piece of information like it
was a well-cooked steak, fully grasping the flavor of each chewy
slice till he had identified every single spice used in its
making.

"Very well then," he said finally, "I can see that
you are well armed against any dangers that may be placed in your
way, but, if I may ask humbly, is it possible that you may need a
servant? Someone to help around your home and keep out unwanted
pests?"

The woman thought it over in the same way the goblin
had thought over what she had said about her brothers. The
goblin's request had been a strange one but not totally uncommon,
for many goblins had become caretakers in the homes of nobles.

"I accept your offer," she said slowly, "But I have
rules that must be obeyed and things that I must know if you are
to be my servant."

"Of course my lady," he bowed at the waist then
straightened back to standing, "Whatever milady wishes shall be
hers."

"Good, now, the first thing I wish to know is your
name for I do not like calling out 'You' or 'Servant'," she
informed him as she walked up to him.

"My name is Lykalis, Mistress," he bowed again.

"And don't call me Mistress, it makes me feel old. My
name is Rayana, but if you insist on calling me in a manner that
is appropriate for our relations to each other than just call me
Ms. Rayana," the new employer told the goblin, "Also, you will be
paid for your work, along with room and meals."

"Thank you Ms. Rayana, thank you very much," the
little goblin said, and for a moment Rayana thought that she had
heard true gratitude in his voice but when she looked closer at
his face all she saw was a typical impish goblin grin.

"No need to give thanks, now let's move, we have
wasted much time here talking and I wish to reach my house before
noon," Rayana started past Lykalis, leading him through the
forest to her home which she now shared with him.

The path was twisted and long. They broke branches
and snapped twigs, which echoed in the still forest. Only the
occasional bird song or fox yip told them that nothing was
unusual, that all the animals were going about their business and
not hiding from some threat. They did not speak a word, and
Rayana was glad for it. She thought long and hard about this new
member of her house and why in the world he would ask questions
about her supposed weakness at the hands of the many beings that
lurked in this wood. On and on she meditated, letting her feet
walk this path as they had before, and soon she found herself at
her own door step.

She turned to the goblin and said, "This is home now
Lykalis, this is where you will stay until you wish to leave."

Lykalis smiled up at her, "And a lovely home it is
Ms. Rayana."

Rayana took him through the house, showing him the
kitchen and bathroom, the study and the door to her own room.
Then they went outside where she showed him her garden, full of
fresh produce that it made the air rich and earthy. After the
tour was finished she asked him, to make them both some lunch
while she changed her clothes and unpacked her small satchel.

"Of course Miss, it is my job to serve," he answered
when she asked.

"I know, but it feels rude to order one to do it. I
was raised in a family where everyone asked the others for help,
not demanding it," she explained kindly.

Lykalis nodded and walked into the kitchen to prepare
the meal. Rayana walked to her rooms and closed the door. A while
later she emerged, dressed in a simple long tunic and breeches,
comfortable and roomy. Following her nose she wondered into the
kitchen blindly. Her eyes fell upon her table. Earlier it had
been empty but now it held a bowl of stew. The chunks of meat
floated in the cloudy broth next to carrot circles and potato
lumps. It looked like a meal the nobles would feast on in their
castles.

She looked around the room and spotted Lykalis next
to her chair, waiting patiently for her to walk over and sit. Not
wanting to seem foolish when her stomach finally decided to
protest her fasting she walked briskly to her chair, letting the
goblin hold it out for her, and sat down.

"Does the meal look satisfying to you Ms. Rayana?" he
asked once she was comfortably seated.

"Yes Lykalis, it looks absolutely satisfying, thank
you," she replied, scooping a large spoon full of tender meat and
veggies. The thick broth itself could have been a meal all alone;
its texture was soft, and full. It tasted of meats, cooked to
perfection, and veggies, big and ripe. The addition of the slices
of venison, carrots, and kernels of corn, potatoes and celery
made it a feast worthy of a king.

After this first day, Rayana got used to having
another hand in the house, and Lykalis continued to serve her
faithfully. Rayana made sure that Lykalis was given pay for all
his satisfactory work. He slept in a comfy bed and ate at her
table with her. He had tried more than once to sneak money back
into her purse, but she only sneaked it back. They lived together
for many months, he kept true to his word; the house was clean,
all of the meals were splendid and not one pest made it past the
front door. He also told stories and practiced with her when she
did the exercises that her brothers had taught her. She found out
that he was very smart and almost a master at swordplay.

When she went to the village she had brought him
along. People would sometimes stare but most went along their own
business, unsurprised by the sight of a goblin next to the person
he worked for. Her parents and brothers asked about him and she
had only good things to say about Kalis (his personal nickname).
Her family only nodded; goblins had a reputation of pulling
pranks on cruel owners but their Rayana was a kind soul and
treated any person, human or goblin, like an equal.

After almost 6 months after the original meeting,
winter settled in. Snow covered every available surface up to a
foot and a half. Rayana and Lykalis stayed at the house after the
last visit to the town to sell Rayana's goods and get the
supplies they would need for the long winter.

Life in the forest was quiet as the browns, reds, and
yellows of fall gave way to the pure white of winter, until one
day when they had wondered a bit too far into the wood. They had
gone in search of Winter Berries, a popular pie filling during
the winter, when they heard the sound of a giant's footsteps. The
sound of crunching snow got closer to them and just beyond the
world of white they could see a massive shape moving. It moved
towards them and soon they could see the shape that had followed
their cold, wet scent.

It was a Torcalic, the greatest of all giant, and the
meanest. It stood as tall as ten men and reeked of rotten meat.
It couldn't see very well but its nose was as powerful as a
dog's, more even if it wanted to get past the scent of his own
body, and his ear could detect the sound of a beating heart on a
calm day. Most would wear the rags of their other victims but
this one only had enough for pants, this meant that he was a
young Torcalic, and extremely dangerous.

Kalis and Rayana stood still as the giant approached;
their hearts were calm and beating softly. They hoped that if the
giant couldn't hear them that he would just pass them by. The
Torcalic had other ideas; once he had made it to 20 feet in front
of them he slapped his club down to the ground. Kalis and Rayana
jumped to either side of the club and Rayana pulled out her
sword. She charged the monster's down arm and nicked the skin,
causing him to roar in pain as black blood rolled off his arm and
tainted the snow.

Rayana slashed at the giant a few more times, each time
drawing his blood. As the giant backed up a bit to escape the
pest that stung him, Rayana looked around to see where Kalis was.
She couldn't find him in the short few seconds the Torcalic took
to prepare for the next attack but she knew that he didn't
abandon her. She trusted him and as she went back to face the
giant she prayed that he had a really good plan, for all she was
doing was making the giant angrier and determined to take care of
the pest.

She ran to the giant, her sword ready to bite at his
ankles, when she saw a black streak jump from one of the trees
behind the giant to his shoulder, it was Kalis! He landed on the
shoulder and plunged a short sword, something he carried with him
after Rayana had given it to him to practice with, into the
giant's thick neck.

The giant roared in pain, he grabbed at the small
goblin on his shoulder and threw Kalis into the trees. Rayana
screamed his name but dared not move until she was sure that the
giant was taking his last breath. After the Torcalic threw Kalis,
he scratched at his neck, stupidly driving the sword farther into
his fat throat. Even without seeing what was happening Rayana
knew that this act would kill him. The sword was most likely
poking into his esophagus and he would drown from the blood that
was pouring into his lungs.

After thrashing around madly the giant fell face first
into the snow, blood dripping from his mouth; wide open in a
silent scream. Rayana stared at the body for what seemed like an
eternity until she dropped her sword, sure that she wouldn't need
it now, and ran into the forest to find Kalis. She ran straight
for the snow bank that had hidden his fall. Stumbling through the
thick snow she reached the crest and searched the surrounding
snow frantically. She saw a dull brown shape lying in the snow
about 15 feet off. Sliding down the slope she fell next to the
pile of clothes.

"Lykalis? Please, are you hurt?" She asked, tears
pricking her eyes.

The pile moved and under the clothes was not a goblin,
but a human man! The green yellow pebbly skin was replaced by
smooth pink flesh, the once red glowing eyes now deep brown. He
looked up at her and smiled, it was the same smile the goblin
had.

"Hey Rayana, is he dead?" he asked, like he was just
woke from a nap instead of being thrown through the air.

"Yeah, he's dead. But I don't understand, what happened
to you? Why did you change forms?" she stared at him, confused
but also glad that he was okay.

"I'm sorry for not telling you but, I am the son of a
nobleman from the North. I was very foolish and cruel. One day a
servant of my father, a goblin, asked me to follow him. I
followed and he took me to a small house at the edge of my
father's estates. He led me inside where I saw an old goblin
woman sitting in front of the fire.

"I was told to sit across the fire and listen. I wanted
to tell them that they couldn't order me around but my father had
told me that if I act out of order even one more time that I
would be punished for my crimes against my subjects. So I sat and
listened, she told me that she was going to put a curse on me. I
stood up to go to my father but before I knew it I was on the
floor in pain. I shrank in form and it hurt my bones." He
shivered as he said it, remembering the experience.

"When I stood up I walked over to the mirror and saw
that I was indeed a goblin. I was in shock at first then in rage.
I was about to yell at the woman when she told me that if I
didn't learn to behave that I would stay as I was, my father was
already told about what would happen and agreed that it was for
the best.

"At first I wanted to yell and rant and order them to
change me back, but I was a smart fellow. I thought that I could
trick them into thinking that I had changed and then they would
have to release me from this curse. So I did as they told me,
inside I fought it as much as I could but soon I realized that I
couldn't help but to change. I was taken to the homes of the sick
and old. I took care of them and listened to their stories. And
soon, I started to enjoy it." He looked up at Rayana who was
still engrossed in his tale.

"Once they said that I had learned my lesson I was
released to go out and break the curse myself. I was told that I
had to do a great deed for someone while in their servitude.
Protect my master basically. So I traveled for a while, searching
for someone who would be in danger. I came to a village that also
borders this forest, only to the North and not the East like
yours. I had heard of the monsters that live here and I also
heard rumors about you. So I set off in search of you, sure that
you would need protection." Rayana rolled her eyes at this remark
and Kalis just laughed.

"When I first met you I was a little put down. You were
strong and brave, what could I do to protect a master who was
already so courageous? But I decided to stay with you anyways; I
was weary of traveling and wanted to stay in one place for a
while. I really liked staying at your house, I was calm and
comforting." His voice became sad, "Honestly I wish that we had
never come to cross paths with the Torcalic. I didn't even
remember that I was cursed before he threw me and I felt like I
was stretching. I'm sorry if this shocked you, and I'm sorry for
not telling you sooner." He bowed his head.

Rayana thought about what he said, about where he came
from and his situation. She thought long and hard in the silence.
She thought and thought till she noticed him shaking; the cold
was seeping into the torn clothes. She stood up and offered her
hand to him. He looked up at her and understood, he took it and
stood, the only pain was in his cold joints. They walked home and
Rayana started the fire while Lykalis changed in his room. Once
the fire was going Rayana sat, and watched the flames, still
thinking hard as Kalis entered the room and took the chair
opposite hers, still silent.

"I suppose you will be needed back home soon, to tell
your father and the goblins of your adventure." Rayana said to
the flames.

"I will need to go soon. They will be worried about me
after all this time." Kalis answered back.

"When will you leave?" sadness seeped into Rayana's
voice as she thought about the loneliness that would come back
after he left her. She had never really felt the loneliness
before, but that was before she had a friend to share her home
and life with. Kalis looked at her, he could only see one side of
her face but the sadness was still there.

"Well, I can't walk in all this snow, so spring would be
the best time to travel, and the journey is long, I would really
dislike to go it by myself," his voice hopeful. Rayana looked up
at him, at first slightly confused but then glowing with
happiness. She wasn't going to lose her friend, and better yet,
she could travel with him and learn about his life.

"I would be honored to join you, Sir Kalis," she replied,
bowing in her seat.

"Please," he held up a hand, "Just call me Kalis, we are
friends after all." His smile warmed Rayana's heart.

"So you will wait till spring to leave, what will you do
till then?" Rayana asked.

"Well, would you like to learn about my family? I'm sure
they would be quite upset if you were to meet them and know
nothing about them, they would think that I had forgotten them,"
he chuckled.

"I would enjoy that," Rayana smiled at him, and for the
rest of that night, and the short winter days after that, Rayana
and Kalis talked about his life before and after his curse,
eagerly awaiting the first signs of spring.